Nepotism Allegations in PTT Hiring Spark Controversy
CHP Gaziantep MP Hasan Öztürkmen has brought serious allegations to the Turkish Parliament, claiming that Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu was aware of nepotism in the hiring process within the Post and Telegraph Organization (PTT). According to Öztürkmen, to favor certain candidates, members of the ruling AKP were asked to submit names for recruitment into PTT.
Expressing his concerns, Öztürkmen highlighted the discrepancies in the response provided by Minister Uraloğlu. He accused the minister of evading crucial questions aimed at uncovering the depth of the nepotism involved. Facing the evidence of nepotism, what action did you take? How many employees share the same surname? asked Öztürkmen, to which he reported receiving irrelevant replies. This, he suggests, implicates the minister in potentially covering up the misconduct.
IN-DEPTH ALLEGATIONS AND RESPONSES
The controversy started when Öztürkmen unveiled documents earlier that purportedly show group communications within the Gaziantep AKP branch. These documents, dated January 9, 2025, explicitly requested submission of names by the AKP administrative board members for upcoming recruitments at PTT. If the number of names exceeded the positions available, a draw was suggested to decide the hires, ensuring that those not selected would be prioritized in future recruitments. Öztürkmen criticized this practice as a 'scandal', calling it a blatant example of 'learned helplessness' among bureaucrats and a direct violation of meritocracy.
According to Turkish law, Öztürkmen asserts such practices could potentially fall under the categories of misuse of duty, corruption, and obtaining unfair advantage in public office, urging judicial intervention. Despite the allegations and the documented evidence, there has been no formal response either from the Gaziantep AKP branch or the PTT Gaziantep directorate.
Öztürkmen has vowed to continue to pursue these issues, signaling a deep concern over the integrity of governmental institutions and the practice of appointing unqualified individuals through partisan favoritism. This ongoing issue within PTT is just one instance of how political influence is overriding merit and qualifications in public sector appointments.
The public and opposition parties await transparent investigations and accountability from all parties involved, hoping for a resolution that restores integrity to public service recruitment.
Haber Merkezi
